The dust has finally settled at Ford Field, and if you’re looking at the final michigan high school football rankings for the 2025 season, you’ll see some names that look familiar and a few that probably have you scratching your head. Honestly, that’s the beauty of high school ball in this state. One year you’re the powerhouse everyone fears, and the next, a bunch of kids from a town you can barely find on a map are hoisting a trophy.
Rankings are tricky. They aren't just about who won the last game; they're a mix of strength of schedule, point differentials, and that "eye test" that scouts love to argue about in the stands while eating cold hot dogs.
The King of the Hill: Detroit Catholic Central
Let's just say it: Novi is the center of the universe right now. Detroit Catholic Central didn't just win; they dominated. Finishing 14-0 is hard. Doing it while playing the schedule they do is almost impossible. They took down Cass Tech 42-19 in the Division 1 final, and it wasn't even as close as the score suggests.
Samson Gash is a name you've probably heard a thousand times by now. The senior wideout is elite. But in the final, it was actually his brother, junior Gideon Gash, who stole the show with three massive touchdown catches. When you have a family tree that produces talent like that, the rankings take care of themselves.
The Shamrocks finished the year as the undisputed No. 1 in almost every composite ranking, including MaxPreps and the final AP polls. They have this way of making very good teams look very average. It’s sort of demoralizing to watch if you're on the other sideline.
Why Cass Tech and DeWitt Still Matter
You can't talk about the top tier without mentioning Detroit Cass Tech. They finished 13-1, with that lone loss coming in the state championship. People love to hate on the Technicians, but Marvin Rushing has that program humming. They beat everyone else put in front of them, including a dominant run through the Detroit Public School League.
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Then there is DeWitt.
They are basically a scoring machine.
They ended the season 14-0 and capped it off by absolutely dismantling Mount Pleasant 54-20 in the Division 3 final.
Traverse Moore, their senior star, put up numbers that look like they came out of a video game. He ran for 397 yards in the title game. That’s a state finals record. If you’re looking at pure offensive firepower, DeWitt might actually be the most fun team in the state to watch, regardless of division. They proved that a "smaller" school can absolutely compete for the top overall spot in the state-wide michigan high school football rankings.
The Division 2 Chaos and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
The Division 2 bracket was a literal bloodbath this year. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s took home the hardware again, repeating as champions by beating Dexter 51-14.
The Eaglets started the season a little slow, which is why they were sitting around No. 13 or 14 in the mid-season rankings. But that’s the thing about the Catholic League—the regular season is so brutal that a two-loss team is often better than a ten-win team from a weaker conference. By the time November rolled around, Jermaine Gonzales had his squad playing at a level that most teams couldn't touch. Quarterback Jabin Gonzales threw for over 300 yards in the final, proving that the St. Mary’s air attack is just as dangerous as their historically "ground and pound" reputation.
The Top 10 Teams (Final 2025 Standings)
- Detroit Catholic Central (14-0) - The clear heavyweight champ.
- Detroit Cass Tech (13-1) - Only lost to the best.
- Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (11-2) - The D2 kings who got hot at the right time.
- DeWitt (14-0) - Record-breaking offense in Division 3.
- Hudsonville (11-1) - A massive season that ended in a tough playoff exit.
- East Kentwood (10-3) - Played one of the toughest schedules in West Michigan.
- Clarkston (10-2) - Always a threat, always disciplined.
- Rockford (8-3) - The Rams had some injuries but remained a top-tier program.
- Dearborn Divine Child (13-1) - Won their first state title since 1985 in a D4 thriller.
- Menominee (14-0) - Dominant run in D7, proving the U.P. still has elite football.
Small Schools, Big Rankings
It is a common mistake to ignore the lower divisions when looking at michigan high school football rankings.
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Look at Menominee. They went 14-0. They didn't just win games; they buried people. They beat Schoolcraft 34-6 in the final. When you have a team from the Upper Peninsula that can travel down to Ford Field and look that polished, you have to respect it.
The same goes for Harbor Beach. Coach Troy Schelke was named the Detroit Lions Coach of the Year for a reason. They went 14-0 in Division 8, beating a very strong Hudson team 31-20. Their quarterback, Caden Bucholtz, is a dual-threat nightmare. Just because a school is small doesn't mean the talent isn't Power Five level.
Looking Ahead: The Class of 2026 and 2027
Rankings for the next season are already being whispered about in locker rooms. If you’re wondering who will be topping the lists in 2026, keep your eyes on these kids:
- Samson Gash (WR, Detroit Catholic Central): He’s committed to Michigan State but hasn't signed yet. Penn State is sniffing around. He’s the most electric player in the state.
- Myles Smith (EDGE, Farmington): This kid is a 2027 prospect but he's already a 4-star. He’s 6-foot-5 and just collects sacks like they’re trading cards. Nebraska and Pitt are already all over him.
- Owen Winder (OT, Dexter): A mountain of a human. 6-foot-6, 270 pounds. He helped lead Dexter to their first-ever final.
The Flaw in the System
Rankings are never perfect. Honestly, the MHSAA playoff point system is what actually determines who gets in, but "rankings" are often just a popularity contest.
Take a team like Belleville. They had a "down" year by their standards, losing to Howell 57-36 late in the season. For years, they were the No. 1 team by default. But the rankings finally caught up to the reality on the field. You can't just rely on your jersey's name anymore. The competition in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) and the O-K Red is just too high.
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How to Follow the Rankings Next Season
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, you need to look at three specific sources. Don't just trust one.
First, the Associated Press (AP) Poll. This is voted on by sportswriters across Michigan. It tends to favor historical powerhouses, but it's a good baseline.
Second, the MHSFCA Coaches Poll. This is usually the most accurate because it's voted on by the people actually watching the film—the coaches. They see the nuances that writers miss.
Lastly, check the MaxPreps Computer Rankings. This is pure math. It doesn't care about "tradition." It looks at who you played and how much you won by. Sometimes the computer is cold, but it rarely lies about a team's actual strength.
To get the most out of following Michigan high school football, start tracking the "Points Per Game" (PPG) allowed by the top 25 teams in August. Teams that allow fewer than 14 points per game in the first month almost always end up in the semifinals. Defensive consistency is a much better predictor of late-season ranking success than a flashy quarterback who puts up 40 points against a winless team.